Category: Other
India launches spy satellite
BANGALORE, April 20, 2009 (AFP) – India put an Israeli-built spy satellite into orbit Monday, aimed at boosting its defence surveillance capabilities in the aftermath of the Mumbai militant attacks. The satellite, which can see through clouds and carry out day-and-night all-weather imaging, has been a long-standing demand of the Indian military. Its acquisition was […]
Losing Proposition
April 18, 2009 (LBO)- During the three decades beginning from 1978, Sri Lanka had recorded on average an annual inflation rate of slightly over 11 percent. During the same period, its annual average economic growth rate amounted to 5 percent. These two macroeconomic numbers have prompted many to argue that inflation does not matter since, […]
US environment agency deems CO2 a health risk
WASHINGTON, April 18, 2009 (AFP) – The US Environmental Protection Agency shifted course Friday by deeming carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases a health risk, in a landmark turnaround that could impact climate change regulation. “After a thorough scientific review ordered in 2007 by the US Supreme Court, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed […]
Convicted
LONDON, April 17, 2009 (AFP) – A London court convicted a man described as the head of the Tamil Tigers in Britain on two terror-linked charges Friday, including supplying bomb-making equipment to the Sri Lankan group. Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar, 52, was found guilty of coordinating supplies of material to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). […]
US to give Pakistan one bln dlrs in aid
TOKYO, April 17, 2009 (AFP) – The United States will give Pakistan one billion dollars in aid over two years, the US envoy Richard Holbrooke announced Friday as an international donors’ conference opened in Tokyo. Holbrooke “announced the United States’ intent to provide support to the government of Pakistan totalling one billion dollars over a […]
India begins voting in marathon election
NEW DELHI, April 16, 2009 (AFP) – Indians voted in their tens of millions Thursday as month-long general elections — the world’s largest democratic exercise — kicked off with little hope of a clear winner at the end of it all.From the southern tropical state of Kerala to the Himalayan foothills of Kashmir in the […]
‘s PM
NEW DELHI, April 15, 2009 (AFP) – With a combined age of 157, the two men vying for the post of India’s prime minister are having a high old time lobbing ageist stones at each other from their respective glasshouses. Incumbent Manmohan Singh, 76, of the ruling Congress Party and 81-year-old L.K. Advani of the […]
Indians line up for election marathon
NEW DELHI, April 15, 2009 (AFP) – India braced Wednesday for marathon elections expected to throw up an unstable coalition government at a time when the country needs strong leadership to pull through an economic downturn. Neither of the two main national parties — the incumbent Congress and the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) […]
EU presidency urges truce extension in Sri Lanka
BRUSSELS, April 14, 2009 (AFP) – The EU presidency on Tuesday welcomed the Sri Lankan government’s two-day pause in its offensive against Tamil rebels, but called for a longer halt amid grave concerns over civilian safety. The EU statement stressed that both sides of the conflict should respect human rights and international humanitarian law. The […]
Dwindling exports hit Bangladesh economy
DHAKA, April 13, 2009 (AFP) – Export growth for Bangladesh’s crucial garments sector has ground to a halt as a result of the global financial crisis, threatening to pull down the rest of the economy, experts said. Clothing manufacture underpins impoverished Bangladesh’s industrial activity, accounting for 80 percent of overseas sales and pulling in 11 […]
”” hearts
NEW DELHI, April 13, 2009 (AFP) – A professor dubbed “the love guru” is contesting India’s elections on an unusual platform — more freedom for lovers and standing up to vigilante groups who frown on public displays of affection. Matuk Nath Choudhary, who is standing in the Bihar state capital of Patna, is promising that, […]
Summit debacle sets back Asian fight against global crisis
PATTAYA, April 12, 2009 (AFP) – The dramatic cancellation of an Asian summit after rampaging Thai protesters stormed the venue has set back a regional effort to tackle the global economic crisis, analysts said.The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was to have hosted two days of talks with the leaders of China, Japan, South […]